Abstract

Background

Computer-based teaching (CBT) is a well-known educational device, but it has never
been applied systematically to the teaching of a complex, rare, genetic disease, such
as Hunter disease (MPS II).

Aim

To develop interactive teaching software functioning as a virtual clinic for the management
of MPS II.

Implementation and Results

The Hunter disease eClinic, a self-training, user-friendly educational software program, available at the Lysosomal
Storage Research Group (http://www.lysosomalstorageresearch.cawebcite), was developed using the Adobe Flash multimedia platform. It was designed to function
both to provide a realistic, interactive virtual clinic and instantaneous access to
supporting literature on Hunter disease. The Hunter disease eClinic consists of an eBook and an eClinic. The eClinic is the interactive virtual clinic component of the software. Within an environment
resembling a real clinic, the trainee is instructed to perform a medical history,
to examine the patient, and to order appropriate investigation. The program provides
clinical data derived from the management of actual patients with Hunter disease.
The eBook provides instantaneous, electronic access to a vast collection of reference information
to provide detailed background clinical and basic science, including relevant biochemistry,
physiology, and genetics. In the eClinic, the trainee is presented with quizzes designed to provide immediate feedback on
both trainee effectiveness and efficiency. User feedback on the merits of the program
was collected at several seminars and formal clinical rounds at several medical centres,
primarily in Canada. In addition, online usage statistics were documented for a 2-year
period. Feedback was consistently positive and confirmed the practical benefit of
the program. The online English-language version is accessed daily by users from all
over the world; a Japanese translation of the program is also available.

Conclusions

The Hunter disease eClinic employs a CBT model providing the trainee with realistic clinical problems, coupled
with comprehensive basic and clinical reference information by instantaneous access
to an electronic textbook, the eBook. The program was rated highly by attendees at national and international presentations.
It provides a potential model for use as an educational approach to other rare genetic
diseases.